Washington summit: Year of steps toward lasting Azerbaijan-Armenia peace PHOTO

One year has passed since the landmark meeting in Washington on August 8, 2025, between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, US President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, widely regarded as one of the most significant milestones in the normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

On that date, the three leaders signed a Joint Declaration on the outcome of the Washington talks, Caliber.Az reminds, citing local media. 

The declaration stated that Aliyev, Pashinyan, and Trump witnessed the initialling of the agreed text of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia by the foreign ministers. It also noted that additional steps were required before the agreement could be formally signed and ratified.

The Joint Declaration reaffirmed the parties' commitment to the peace agenda and their readiness to build relations based on the principles of international law.

The document stressed the inadmissibility of the use of force or threats of force and highlighted the importance of building the region's future on cooperation and mutual respect.

One of its key points was the parties' stated intention to close the chapter of hostility caused by the past conflict. The document specifically emphasised that revanchism would not be tolerated and that future relations would be based on peace and cooperation.

This approach was viewed as an important political message aimed at creating an environment of trust in the region.

The initialling of the peace agreement text between Azerbaijan and Armenia was regarded as a significant breakthrough in the years-long negotiation process and a step toward establishing the legal foundations for a future peace treaty.

Following the Washington meeting, the OSCE Minsk Group officially ceased its activities at the request of Azerbaijan and Armenia. After the initialling of the agreement, restrictions on cargo transit from Azerbaijan to Armenia were lifted, allowing shipments such as Russian and Kazakh wheat to be transported to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory. Azerbaijan also began supplying its oil products to Armenia.

Another outcome of the Washington meeting was the acceleration of preparations for the TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) project.

Technical and infrastructure preparations for the implementation of the transport route connecting Azerbaijan's mainland with Nakhchivan have continued, while Azerbaijan has expanded construction of road and railway infrastructure on its territory.

During this period, an Azerbaijani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev visited Armenia. In April this year, the sides agreed on draft instructions for the delimitation process.

Thus, the document signed in Washington has gone down in history not only as a significant step toward normalising relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but also as a strategic political factor for regional security, economic development and prospects for international cooperation.

The Washington meeting has also been viewed by the international community as an important diplomatic step toward strengthening stability in the South Caucasus.

Experts believe the document has created an important legal and political foundation for continuing direct dialogue between the parties, expanding regional connectivity and economic cooperation opportunities, and moving toward the signing of a final peace agreement.

By Sabina Mammadli